Category Archives: Ceremonies

Ceremonies: Buddhist Homa

Buddhist Priests Perform Japanese Homa 25 September 2003 On the second day of Amritavarsham50, two monks from very different Buddhist sects performed an integrated homa [fire-pit ritual] based on the esoteric Buddhist practice from the Shingon tradition. Tendai Buddhist Rev. … Continue reading

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Ceremonies: Archana

10,000 Perform Archana to Open Amritavarsham50 24 September 2003 At 5:00 a.m. on 24 September, Amritavarsham50 opened in the main pavilion, Amriteswari Hall. More than 10,000 devotees were in attendance to take part in the morning prayers. The Mata Amritanandamayi … Continue reading

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Ceremonies: Ganapati Homa

Ganapati Homa Opening-Day Puja to Remove Obstacles 24 September 2003 In India it is customary for important events to start with a prayer to Shri Ganesha, as the elephant-faced god is considered the remover of obstacles. At the beginning of … Continue reading

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Interviews – Sri Durgaswami

Sri Durgaswami 24 September 2003 Sri Durgaswami, from Vellore, Tamil Nadu, was one of more than 150 sannyasins honoured in Amritavarsham50‘s Acharya Vandanam Puja on 24 September. What is Amma to you? “Amma is the smile, the service, the equality. … Continue reading

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Ceremonies: Acharya Vandanam

Acharya Vandanam: Worshipping the Spiritual Teachers 24 September 2003 In Sanskrit, acharya means “teacher” and vandanam means “salutations.” So Acharya Vandanam is “worshipping, or offering salutations to, the teachers.” The first day of Amritavarsham50 witnessed a traditional ceremony wherein more … Continue reading

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Dwajarohanam – Flag-hoisting Ceremony

Dwajarohanam 24 September 2003 Shortly after dawn on the first day of Amritavarsham50, the drums and cymbals of Shri. Mattanur Shankaran’s thayambaka performance began to beckon devotees from Amriteshwari Hall for the flag-raising ceremony, or Dwajarohanam. After Swami Amritaswarupananda made … Continue reading

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